Digit guard



Nov. 6, 1951 v. KELLY 2,573,715

DIGIT GUARD Filed DEC. 22, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Victor Leroy Kelly INVENTOR.

V. L. KELLY DIGIT GUARD Nov. 6, 1951 2 SHEETS-S ET 2 Fig. 5

Filed Dec. 22, 1947 Fig. 7

Victor Leroy Kelly JNVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIGIT GUARD Victor Leroy Kelly, Houston, Tex.

Application December 22, 1947, Serial No. 793,223

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-89 This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in devices for covering and protecting various portions of the anatomy against jars, shock, inadvertent exposure to vermin as by preventing direct contact with unclean articles and the like.

An object of this invention is to protect and guard a selected portion of the anatomy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a splint havin an arcuate portion for protection purposes, segments in the said splint which are readily detachable for adjusting the splint to a selected size and improved means for retaining the splint on a portion of the anatomy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cradle for use in association with the splint, the said cradle forming a bearing surface for the anatomy portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide I a plurality of guards slidably and adjustably received on the said splint for further protection purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which may be readily attached and detached to a selected portion of the anatomy such as a finger, either with or without a bandage therebeneath and either with or without a bandage thereon.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide improved means for carrying out the above mentioned functions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extremely simple device of the character described which lends itself well to commercial manufacture.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention, showing the same utilized in association with a digit;

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the invention illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the invention illustrated in Figure 2;

The purpose of the present invention is to guard a digit or another selected portion of the anatomy such as the leg, arm or the like from inadvertent shock, jars and injury. Often, utilizing a finger for various purposes, a finger becomes injured necessitating a bandage or the like. When a finger is injured in such proportions, pain usually results in inadvertent shock, jars Or the like. The present invention is provided as. a protection against such jars, since the shock is transmitted to the sound area of the finger adjacent the injury, thereby dissipatin the shock to the uninjured area of the injured finger. Of course, the utility of this invention also tends to retain the digit in a more clean condition, which advantages are obvious.

The invention is so constructed as to permit the digit to be bandaged or covered without impeding a harmful amount of ventilation thereto. It being within the purview of the present invention to utilize the same in association with a bandaged finger or an exposed finger. For appearance sake, the invention may be covered with a bandage, if so desired.

A splint, generally indicated at II] is provided of a substantially U-shaped member l2 consisting of legs or leg segments l4 and a web associated therewith. These segments are readily detachable due to the reduced or weakened portions l6 connecting the said segments. The material and construction of the member 12 is preferably light metal, plastic, wood or fiber. Inspection of the figures in the drawings obviously il- I lustrates *the fact that this splint is adapted to Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of one be positioned about a digit.

A cradle l8 composed of any suitable material such as light metal or plastic, is slidably received on the said splint and more properly on thedetachable segments, through the medium of the curved bosses 20 which are formed at the ends thereof.

A plurality of guards are provided in association with the present invention for use therewith. These guards indicated at 22 are of rather rigid material and are also slidable on the detachable segments M. It is noted from an inspection of Figure 3 that the said guards are spaced from the injured digit, this construction being insured by forming them of a smaller radius of curvature than the cradles l8. The guards 22 may be adjusted on the segments M in order that one or more of them may be adapted to protrude over and spaced from the injured area.

The terminals of the guards are preferably formed with bosses 24, similar to the said bosses 5 20. It is noted at this point that it is within the purview of the present invention to obviate these bosses and substitute slits in the ends of the guards and in the cradles, whereby the splint segments may'be'slid therethrough. 1

The guards 22 receive the shock directed 'at the injury, deflect it by transmitting the same with the aid of the splint M, to the cradles I which are located on the whole or uninjured port-.-

tion of the anatomy to transmit the shock to that uninjured portion.

Layers of adhesive material suchas well known. adhesive tape may be wrapped around the cradles I8 for firm retention of the device to a bandage;- on the finger or if desired directly on the finger. This .adhesive material,-..seen .in.Figures.-1 and-:2 andindicated at .26. islof. course. detachable for readily removing the inventiomfrom.thefinger..

Further, when .the adhesive material (preferably tape). is attachedtathe injured portion of. the anatomy, the, part. which passes .around the cradles .l 8, forms .an. additional cradleon that'ope posite side .whichsupports .the guards 22 on .that. side, similar ..to. the function .of.. the cradles 1'8.

Itiisz. apparent. that. variations. may be made therein without departing .from. the spirit of.the. invention. Accordinglyl-limitation is sought only in accordance. with. the: scope. of. the. following claims Havingdescribed the invention what is. claimedv as new is:

1. .A .cover for. aninjured memberzoithe .anate omyl comprising a splint consisting. of ,a pair' of substantially parallel 1egs. .-.having transverse weakened :parts. .there-infopready removalof a portion of each leg and said weakened.,parts .dee. fining removable. portions, of. .said glegs; .said. legs beingaconnectedzat. one..pair-..ofi; endsythereof by; means .of an integrala part ot said-splint, :cradles- '4 having bearings at their ends slidably disposed on said legs so that the cradles may be slidably moved to preselected spaced parts of the injured member, guards, said guards being larger than said cradles so that the guards are spaced farther from the injured member than the cradles, and means fixing said guards to said legs for longitudinal adjustment on said legs.

2. A cover for an injured member of the anatomy "comprising? a :splint; consisting of.a pair of substantially parallel legs Y having transverse weakened parts therein for ready removal of a portion of each leg, and said weakened parts defining.,removable portions of said legs, said legs being connected at one pair of ends thereof by meansiof: amintegral part of said splint, cradles having bearings attheir ends slidably disposed onsa-id legs so thatsaid cradles may be slidably moyed towpreselected spaced parts of the injured member, guards, said guards being larger than said.. cradles. sothatv ,the. guards ,,ar e spaced far: ther. from the. injuredmember. than ,the. cradles, and.means fixing. saidguards 'to said legs for 1011:. gitudinal: adjustment. on saidlegs, at. least one. of,-. said. guardslbeingldisposed on ,saidlegs in the. op posite direction from at least one other of said..- guards. andmeans disposed over. said cradles and a part of saidlegspreventing substantial-move-. ment. of said cradles on saidlegs and .forretainr ing.-said.splint on the injured member,of .the anatomy,

VICTOR f LEROY .KELLY..:

REFERENCES CITED' The-following references arev of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name, Date;

594,076 Gardiner Nov.-23; 1897. 1,708,757: Freileweh: Apr. 9, 1929. 2,007,127 Longfellow July 2,183,351 2,409,195 Crawford. .Oct. 15,1946. 

